(a) Surf Boat Course – The boat is positioned in the team’s allocated position on the water’s edge. One crew person is positioned in the team’s allocated position on the boat start/finish line with their toes on or behind the boat start/finish line or on the shoreward side of the boat start/finish line. On the starting signal a crew person runs from the boat start/finish line to the boat. Upon touching any part of the boat (not the oars) the crew then gets into the boat, rows to and around their designated turning buoy as instructed by the designated official and returns to shore. At any time after rounding the turning buoy, a crew person may leave the boat and proceed to shore, cross the boat start/finish line to their designated beach position where a flag has been placed 5 metres behind the start/finish line. The crew person then raises that flag above their head to signal the start of the next leg.
Note: The General Conditions of Surf Boat Racing apply to this event except where otherwise noted for this event.
(b) Swim Course – Upon the raising of the flag by the boat crew person the swimmer who is waiting with their toes on or behind the SCO line then completes the swim course, rounds the two green and yellow turning flags and then visibly tags with the board paddler who is waiting with their board and with their toes on or behind the SCO line and on the shoreward side of the SCO line (refer section 2.28 for definition of a tag).
(c) Board Course – When the board paddler has rounded all board course buoys with their board the paddler may leave their craft and round the two green and yellow turning flags and visibly tags with the ski paddler who is waiting in approximately knee depth water with their ski and paddle.
(d) Ski Course– The ski paddler then completes the ski course. Once the ski paddler has rounded all buoys the ski paddler may leave their craft. The ski paddler visibly tags with the beach sprinter. The tag can be effected anywhere between the last turning buoy and the seaward side of the first green and yellow turning flag.
(e) Beach Sprint Course – The beach sprinter proceeds around the first green and yellow turning flag and past the second green and yellow turning flag on the shoreward side and finishes between the two green or area coloured flags.
Note: Runners are permitted to enter the water to tag the incoming competitor and may wade, porpoise/duck-dive* off the bottom with their feet, catch waves and/or run to the turning flags but are not permitted to swim at any time (this includes taking an overarm swimming action to either catch or stay on a wave.
- Providing the feet push off the bottom, it is permitted to have an above water arm action as part of the porpoise/duck dive movement.
(f) Competitors in the Lifesaver Relay events must commence their leg of the event from the (correct) position as allocated by the Marshall. If the competitor does not comply with this the team may be disqualified.
Note 1: The SCO line only is required for the swim and a board changeover i.e. once a race has commenced, (with the boat), there is no requirement for an outgoing competitor to cross this line after a changeover, but the board paddler must be tagged on the shoreward side of the SCO line. The SCO line is not required for a ski changeover.
Note 2: The green and yellow turning flags are to be turned in the same direction as the buoys for each leg of the course.